Our Loss – Chris Kozlowski

Update – 7/27/12 – Shady Schneider, a long time family friend of the Kozolwski’s has asked for our help spreading the word regarding the establishment of the Kozlowski Family Memorial Fund. Donations may be made as follows: El Dorado Savings Bank, Attn: Kozlowski Family Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 1340, Rancho Murieta, CA 95683

Our Loss – Chris Kozlowski

7/26/12 – By Brittany Bevis – Equine Chronicle - It is with great sadness that we must relay the news of the passing of Chris Kozlowski, a celebrated AQHA judge, friend, and colleague to many within the horse industry.

Because Kozlowski passed away yesterday, and his death was rather sudden and unexpected, we will not be commenting on the cause of death, out of respect for his family. We simply wish to extend our condolences and prayers to his family, friends, and the equine community during this very difficult time.

Two of Kozlowski’s friends and colleagues, Andrea Simons and Bob Kail, were able to share a few memories of the times they shared with a man many considered to be one of the premier AQHA judges in the industry today.

“He was an amazing, wonderful guy, and I loved to judge with him, because he was the kind of man that made you a better judge,” Simons says. “If you’re lucky, you get the chance to work with someone like him. He always had the answers. He was one of the best judges that I’ve ever had a chance to work with. I can remember being in the pen with him, judging a horse, and he’d remember that he once judged that horse’s maternal grandfather.”

“One time, I remember him telling me about how he judged [my daughter] Jana at a Quarter Horse Show, and he could remember every maneuver of her pattern and what she’d done that he’d liked.”

“He was really a neat guy, and I’m just heartbroken for his family. They are very nice people and very involved in the horse industry. His wife has been a show secretary, and his kids are active in the industry. He has judged at almost every major event there was to judge.”

Bob Kail, one of Kozlowski’s best friends, was also able to share a few words.

“I just talked to him a few weeks ago,” Kail says. “I was the best man at his wedding. We applied for our Quarter Horse judges cards together over 27 years ago. Every year, we would go and stay at conventions and seminars together. We always played golf together. This really comes as a shock.”

“He had some really bad kidney stones in January and had to be replaced as a judge at the Sun Circuit. It took him a month or two to get rid of those, and he did lose a lot of weight. He had not been feeling well, but he was feeling better the last time I saw him. We talked every week, so this is very unexpected.”

Kail says, to the best of his knowledge, a date has not yet been scheduled for a funeral service, but he anticipates that more information will be available by the beginning of next week.

Again, we would like to express our deepest condolences and send our prayers to Kozlowski’s family and friends during this trying time.